Dear Canadian basketball community,
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to not only our sport, but society as a whole.
Canada Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball Canada, in consultation with medical and scientific experts, as well as local, provincial/territorial and federal health authorities, are in the process of developing “Back To Basketball”, a multi-phased guide to the safe resumption of basketball in Canada.
Canada Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball Canada have assembled a task force, made up of health professionals who understand the sport of basketball and the unique risks it presents, including:
Men’s and Women’s High Performance Medical / Paramedical Advisors:
- Dr. Doug Richards – CSIO Chief Medical Officer, Women’s NextGen Lead Physician
- Dr. Marni Wesner – Team Physician, Senior Women’s National Team
- Dr. John Philpott – Team Physician, Senior Men’s National Team
- Dr. Steven Dilkas – Team Physician, Wheelchair Basketball Canada
- Dr. Andrew Pipe – FIBA Medical Council
- Samuel Gibbs – IST Lead / Athletic Therapist, Senior Men’s National Team
- Rhonda Shishkin – Physiotherapist, Senior Women’s National Team
- Brett Nagata – Lead Therapist, Wheelchair Basketball Canada
- Lauren Buschmann – IST Manager/Sport Scientist, Women’s High Performance
- Rowan Barrett – General Manager / Executive Vice-President, Senior Men's Program
- Denise Dignard – Director, Women’s High Performance
- Jeff Dunbrack – High Performance Director, Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Our primary goal is to protect the health and safety of all players, coaches, officials, support staff, volunteers, spectators and everyone else returning to our cherished game, while preventing the spread of COVID-19, both on and off-the-court.
This guide will provide relevant information for our Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSO) members, sport partners and broader basketball community to safely resume basketball activities. In addition, the guide will utilize public gathering restrictions, social distancing and travel restrictions as outlined by local, provincial/territorial and federal guidelines, to determine the appropriate stages for the resumption of play.
Due to the landscape of our country, clubs, leagues and teams across Canada will undoubtedly return to the court at different rates. And when we do, the game undoubtedly will look different moving forward.
However, we are looking forward to returning to the court when it is safe to do so and continuing to build upon all the positive momentum that our game has experienced recently in Canada and further uniting our basketball nation.
Sincerely,
Glen Grunwald Wendy Gittens
President & CEO Executive Director
Canada Basketball Wheelchair Basketball Canada